Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) launched a national program in Saudi Arabia to manufacture Gas Turbines and Services built and serviced by Saudi citizens, while MHPS will train and build capabilities of the young Saudis in the area of manufacturing, repair and services.
Developed to be in close alignment with Vision 2030 and Aramco’s In Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program objectives, especially Tanjib project, the MHPS program will drive domestic value through the creation of high skilled jobs, greater energy efficiency and diversification, and greater global competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.
MHPS Project Manager Tarek al-Zaydani explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the company's program focuses on gas turbines, and MHPS is investing in green technology that it believes to be the future.
Zaydani asserted that the Saudi economy has all the potential to succeed, and MHPS has been part of the energy industry for more than 40 years. He added that the company aims to localize and provide new job opportunities for Saudi youth to lead energy production.
He added that the Power Systems will meet the needs of its Saudi customers by providing the necessary repair services, which led to the establishment of Dammam facilities with the service team, noting that the company's national program came to be in close alignment with Vision 2030 and Aramco’s IKTVA program objectives.
Zaidani explained that the program will provide job opportunities for engineers, technicians and other professions within the supply chain in the field of energy and power generation, to enhance the national program.
Mitsubishi's advanced gas turbines are one of the world's leading turbines, with a 65 percent efficiency rating and a 99.5 percent reliability rating.
This technology provides power producers with solutions at lower operational costs, minimum maintenance requirements, reduced downtime for maintenance and repair, and the ability to transform the power grid radically.
"We already have a plan in place and we have allocated the land and aim to establish the first manufacturing unit in line with the Aramco project by mid-2021," Zaidani said.
Zaidani noted that the company’s production depends on the Kingdom's future projects, pointing out that the company's facility in Dammam for repair and service serves all units of MHPS in Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company and other customers.
MHPS has established a state-of-the-art turbine repair facility in Dammam in 2017 to be closer and more supportive to its Saudi customers, as well as providing job opportunities and related training programs for Saudi nationals.
